PRISM - Summer 2025

We Are:

Fermilab is America's premier laboratory for particle physics and accelerator research, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. We support discovery science experiments in Illinois and at locations around the world, including deep underground mines in South Dakota and Canada, mountaintops in Arizona and Chile, and the South Pole.

We are strategic risk takers, innovators, and collaborators. We are engineers, scientists, technicians, administrative professionals. We are over 2,000 employees advancing knowledge for the benefit of humankind. Fermilab has been at the forefront of particle physics for more than 40 years. We build world-leading accelerators and detectors to conduct some of the most advanced particle physics experiments possible. We collect and analyze the data from those experiments with some of the most powerful computers in the world. We conduct this research on a 6,800-acre prairie, 35 miles outside Chicago, a treasure that has been designated a National Environmental Research Park.

The Fermilab Program for Research, Innovation, and STEM Mentorship (PRISM) is a dynamic and immersive four-week summer school designed for high school seniors and recent graduates. This program provides an invaluable opportunity for students to explore cutting-edge STEM fields while connecting with Fermilab STEM professionals.

Participants will delve into topics such as particle physics, quantum science, engineering design, and artificial intelligence, through hands-on activities, expert-led lectures, and exclusive tours of Fermilab's research facilities. Each week focuses on a different scientific theme, enabling students to gain a comprehensive understanding of the diverse opportunities available in STEM careers.

Through mentorship, professional development, and access to a supportive network, students will build their STEM identity, prepare for future academic endeavors, and engage with Fermilab's mission to push the boundaries of science and technology.

Eligibility:

• High School Senior for the 2025-2026 school year or 2025 high school graduate
• U.S. citizen
• Evidence of identity and eligibility to work in the United States
• Proof of medical insurance
• Applicants from groups historically and contemporarily underrepresented in STEM and underserved communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Application Requirements:

• Online application
• Supplemental Questionnaire
• One letter of recommendation from a STEM teacher or STEM club advisor

Internship Details:

• Program Dates: Tentatively July 10-August 8
• Application Period: January 15 - March 15, 2025
• Offer Date: April 4, 2025
• Acceptance Date: April 15, 2025
• Salary: $500 weekly
• Transportation/Housing: Fermilab does not provide housing for the PRISM program
• Transportation assistance available
• The program will be a hybrid of on-site and off-site work

Deliverables:

• Research Abstract
• Research Poster
• Final presentation
• Pre and post-program surveys

Fermilab is an Equal Opportunity Employer and believes a diverse and inclusive environment based on mutual respect is essential to our mission. Fermilab is committed to recruiting and developing the most hardworking people and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, military/veteran status, country of birth, geography/postal code, disability, marital status, parental or gestational status, or other non-merit factor.

REAL-ID Requirement for access to Fermilab Campus
Fermilab and FRA requires all members of the public to produce a REAL-ID, or equivalent, to access the Fermilab Campus for interviews or career events. A list of acceptable forms of ID can be found here: https://get-connected.fnal.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/REALID-Documents.pdf If a candidate is selected for an interview but does not possess any of the equivalent documents, we may schedule a virtual interview.